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Page 43
to news of his death and to be where he could counter any plans to harm Alinor.
''I do not worry about the men and the lands. They may be safely left to her management." A wan smile had touched Simon's lips. "What is 'hers to her' is more a part of Alinor than her soul. The king's spite is another matter. He has a cause to hate her, and he is not the kind that forgets. If you love me, Ian, shield her from the king."
There had been no mention of marriage. Had Ian permitted himself to consider it, he would have suspected that Simon could not bear to think of Alinor in another man's arms. However, Ian himself had not thought of marriage then. Simon had lingered near a year already. Less generous than Alinor, Ian could not bear to let the suffering soul depart. He would rather have Simon alive, no matter how tormented, than let him die and face his own grief and insecurity. Alinor had known nothing about what was said at that last meeting. If she had, she might have been better prepared.
"Did you hear me?" Ian's voice grated into the long silence.
"I hear you," Alinor assured him calmly, "but I do not understand."
"It is clear enough. The solution to all your troubles is to marry again."
"To whom?" Alinor asked dulcetly.
Ian's rigid stance broke. He clasped his hands and pushed at a bright flower on the carpet with his toe. His eyes no longer met Alinor's blankly. They were watching the operation of his toe with enormous interest.
"Me."
Surprise rendered Alinor speechless. She was still caught up in her own baseless reasonings, and Ian's statement was at one and the same time so much part of those reasonings and so far outside them that she could not reorient herself.

 
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